Improvement in the manufacture of wrought-metal wheels



iaitdl Letters Patent No. 109,380, dated November 22, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-METAL WHEELS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all rvhomfit may c onccrn Be it known that I, BARTHLEMY Bannon, ofLyons,

France, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Wrought-Metal Wheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the salne,referencc being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

This linvention lrelates toa new method of manufacturing metal-spoked wheels, made of iron, or such combination of iron that maybe best suited for forggThe spokes are tirst formed and then united to thc nave at a welding heat by percussion or pressure applied at the center of a welding-block, so -as to unite and impart the desired form to the parts constituting the nave by forcing the metal from the cent'er toward the outside of the mold. y

The wheel thus formed, having a suitable number and form of spokes, is as homogeneous as if made in a single piece, while the peculiar dispositiouiof the metal, according to this improved inode of manufacture, allows the weightto be reduced to the minimum limit consistent with the strength, and thus renders the wheels applicable to all kinds of'vel1icles', and more especially to railway-carriages.

Iu carrying out my method, I use machinery for forming the several parts of a wheel, for retaining its parts in position to be united, for bringing the parts to be united to a welding heat, and for welding and uniting the narts so as to form one homogeneous whole.

Spoked metal-wheels are composed of thc nave, the spokes, and the rim`. An additional part consists of the meta-l hoop or tire forming the treading edge. The same-is, however, always made apart from the wheel, and is fitted to the rim in suitable mamier. Its construction or application does not constitute part of the present invention.

The rim of my wheel is divided into as man y parts as there are spokes, each segmentof the rimbeing made in one piece with two semi-spokes.

The inner ends of the spokes are united to the nave by forging.'

The small intervals between thev ends of contiguous rim segments are closed by forging or welding.

In this manner the welding ot' the spoke to the tire is dispensed with, which is a distinctive feature of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side and cud View of the nave.

Figure 3 is lau edge, end, and side view of the blank from which the combined spoke and rim is"formed.

Figure 4 is a face and end view of a section of the combined spoke and rim.

Figure 5 is a face view and section of the wheel while in process of construction within a. ring, D.

Figure 6 is a front view of the machine for bending the spokes.

Figure 7 is a side view of the same.

Figure 8 is a plan or top view of the same.

Figure 9 is a vertical section of one arm of the forging-furnace. i

Figure 10 is a vertical central section of the matrix for uniting spokes and naves.

Figure 1l is a face view and section of wheel as brought out of said matrix.

Figure 12 is a vert-ical section of' theforging-furnace.

. Figure 13 is a plan or top view of the same.

' for operating the matrix. Figure 15 is a plan or top view of the same.

.Figure 16 is a vertical transverse section of the same.

Figurelis a troutelevatiou of the rim -weldiug machine.

.Figure 1S is Lsame.

Figure 19 is a plan or top view of the same. Figure 20-is a horizontal section of the same taken on the plane of the lirie A' B', g. 17.

Figure 2l is' a. horizontal sect-ion of the furnace i'or heating the rims of wheels.

Figure 22 is a vertical section of the same; Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts. f

Ihc nave of each wheel is formed from a cylindrical piece of metal, as shown -iu tig. 1, which is heated in a furnace and shaped in a matrix of suitable form, The metal thus heated is operated upon by a punch of truncated conical shape, which forces the met-al outward in the matrix, so as to give it the form shown in fig. 2, leaving also a. hollow or perforated center for receiving the axle. y Figs. 3 and 4 show the metal blank from which the combined rim and spoke is formed.4 The same consists of a flat ba'r of metal of suitable length. This bar may be ot' a uniform section throughout its length, but preferably'l vary the thickness by increasing it in the middle, so as to suit thediereucc of strain, as seen in g. 3. The center part A of the rim and spoke-blank serves a vertical transverse section ofthe to form the rim.

-Figure 14 is a side elevation o tthe hydraulic -press The spokes 15 U, which are or may ble lenticular in section, form the ends of the rim portion.

The blank is bent in the form shown in fig. 4 in al suitable machine, and the ends ot. the spokes B C are leave a reserve constantly at disposal, I use a furnacey which is arched and provided with firedlars, so that it will supply the heat by radiation.

The furnace is provided with twobars or rails extending from side to side, to which the spoke-bars are fed through a longitudinal opening at the upper part of the furnace.

The bar, in a cold state, is laid ou the projecting 'rail and moved transversely through the opening, and where a lnunber of bars are introduced in succession one bar moves the other forward across the rails in the furnace until one is projected ilu'ough the discharge-opening. y

In this manner each red-hot bar lo.4 be' supplied 'to the bowling-machine' is discharged by the introduction of a cold har into the furnace, and a regular temperature and continuity. ot'action arethus obtained.

'll1e`bars are' set iuv motion by the aid ot' a two- .'u'med lever, which lis brought to bear on the cold' bar.

The machine for bending the scgn'ientul iron spokes is shown in front view, tig. 6, side view at tig. 7, and plan at fig. 8. v

It consists of a training, u a, standing on a hed-or base, b, and united at top by a tie-rod, r, which further connects the framing tothe stationary walls or standards, and forms a support for the driving mechanism.

Motion-is impart-ed to pulley d, and is transmitted from its shaftc to the cross-shaft j' by means o t bevelgearing l. 2, and thence to the principal shaft y, by nleans of spur-gearhn.r 3 4. l

lhe'whcels .-i, on either end ot' shalt y, are provided with erankfpius, which are, by rods I i la connected with a cross-head, i, projectingfrom a slide, l)',that moves in vertical guides l.: 7.'.

"Each revolution of thc shaft y produces reciprocating. motion of .the slide j, the extent of such motion being regulated by the distance of' the crank-pins from the center 0l' arbeid-4. i v

The slide j carries the die l' fnrcurviug tlnl rimsp'oke.

The jointed. counter-dic m is bar, n, ixcd to the framing.

'lhc rim-spokc blank, tig. 3, is shaped by these two dies' in the following manner:

The blank o is first, placed on the die with its ends j resting on the two supports pp, a central position being insured by the aid of regulating-'guide -r.

j The rising movement of the movable die-l brings up the blank -to the counter-dic in, thc bar o being at the centerhcld between the two.

By this continued motionof the die l, the jointed arms m mf areswung around the die l in such manner as to assume the position shown by dotted lines in fig. 6, bending the blank to the ferm shown in fig. 4.' d

Frictionrollcrs at the ends of the arms m' 1n" serve to guide the bar during the bending operation.

The downward motion of the die l' retums the mat.- rces to their former position.

The rim-spoke, embracing 'the die l' and' resting on the part fis then renewed, for similarly acting on a attached toa crossj masso and with it the pushers s, fig. 7, attached thereto.'

The leverG also comes in contact with stop 7 dur- -ing the ascending motion for returning the pusher S v to position. l

The machine thus arranged transforms the straight blanks into spokes, with segments 'of the rirn attached, the form of the spokes being varied by the use of' different dies, and by regulating the strokes of the connecting-rods.

,lhe machine is started or stopped by the belt-shipper 1.

".lhe rim-spokeis now of the 10x-m shown in iig. 4, with the ends B C at an angle, as indicated by the doi ted linesA B" C'.

A number of them is now placed into a ring, D, 'in the position which they are to occupy in forming the wheel, as in tig. 5.

'Lhc diameter ot' this ring D is'such as to embrace the circle formed by the union of the rimsegments.

Provision is also made for the reception of all the radial spokes.

'.l hc rim is provided wit-h handles for movingt-he same.

'lhc rim-spokes are placed in the ring; so that the ends l' G may face alternately in opposite directions, this result being obtained by reversing each rimspoke with regard to the other. This is important, in ordcr'to insure a perfect union of the parts.

'lhe ends of the spokes are cut inclined in reverse order, so as to give some lateral support to the abutting portions. y 1n order to unite the have with the spokes by forgng, I first bring the parts to. be limited to a weldinglcat.

The nave is heated by ordinary means, but Iemploy a special arrangementof forge for heating the inner ends oi' thespokes, so that only those parts areheated which require welding, and not the outer parts on the ,ring l).

An arrangement of furnace for effecting the above object is illustrated in figs. 9, 12, and 13.

Around a central vertical hollow box, n, com m unicating with the blower, is radially disposed a suitable number of horizontal hollow cases, V V, receiving a supply ot air from u by pipes X, which may be provided with valves', if desired.

' The outer ends of the cases V are open ai:v the top, where each receives .a furnace, y, ot' refractory ninterial, and provided with tire-bars, il' desired.

This circular furnace is intended to receive the wheel whose center is to be heated.

The wheel is placed in posit-ion. by the aid of the aforesaid lring D, which is olV larger diameter than the furnace, and is thus not subjected to its action.

lhe air for combustion supplied from the case V A permeates both the lower and thc upper layers of fuel, which envelopes the center of the wheel, and regn= lates the temperature.

By employing. a. number of these radiating furnaces on one box, yu, a continuity of action is insured.

The matrix for uniting the 'nave to the spokes, shown in fig. 10, is made in two parts, upper and lower, E G, whose horizontal surfacesare caused to meet in 'theV spaces between the spokesof the wheel The diameter of each matrix corresponds to the internal diameter of the ring D.

lhe pax-tE isl hollowed at its center, for receiving the forging-punch or cone H.

Figs. 14, 15, and 16, show an arrangement of hydraulic press or machine for operating the matrices E G and punch H, which parts are employed for uniting the spokes to the nave by Welding, and also for Stam-ping or molding the heated portion of the metal.

Fig. 14 shows a front view;

Fig. 15, a plan g and ment under the action of a screw, M, working'in a 'scoriabeingremoved,) together with the unformed nave l which partition is afterward removed.

- cussiou applied at the cnds ot' thc spokes without at the point where the spokes join the rim, and it also e prevents the bulging of the spokes and the separation to the wheel by'thcrst operations.

a P', formed in two parts, 1 beinga hollow column firmprevented from turning by a key, 14%, as shown.

l jointed jaws, 18 18, attached to the flaming, and when Fig. 16, a longitudinal verticalseetiornof the molding-machine. e i

It is-composed f ,a base, I, and head, J, which are supported on columns 8 8, that form the framing of a hydraulic pess, having two pistons, K' K', united by a cross-head.,

To the latter is attached the punch 1-1:

The irtcd die E is on an intermediatecross-har, E', which is firmly connected to the training 8 8 and 'tierods g, while the movable matrix or die G is secured to a cross-bar G', which is capable of vertical adjustnut, N, by means of a double set ot' bevel-gearing 10 10 11 11,\which is actuated by suitable motive power.

The motion niay be readily reversed or arrested by hand automatically by the aid ot' a double inclined plate, 14, which moves lup and down wit-h the screw The actimroiLthc machine is as follows: The dies E G are first separated, and the several segments of the rims and spokes in a heated state, (all also in n heated condition, and placed in the center, are, by the aid ot' the ring I), placed in thc spaces corresponding therewith into-thc die E.

Thescrew M is then set in motion for lowering the die G until it is brought in contact with E, at which moment the hydraulic press is put in action to force up the conical punch H from below the nave, and ef` t'ect a lodgment therein, by which means `the heated metal is caused totill all the spaces, and takes the form of thc mold, which remains stationary.

A counter-punch, o', carried by the upper matrix G, serves to afford the necessaryresistance to the upwaltl pressure.

Afterthe compression, the diesarc separated, when the spokes will be found to be homogencoisly weldcd with the nave to the form ot thedies.

The meta-l in excess forms a transverse partition, 12, of greater 0r lesser thickness, in the bore ofthe nave,

I will now describe the machine for forging or welding together thc several segments of the rim.

This operation is eected either by pressure or pci'- bcaring on the same, so as not to disarrange the parts, and serves to weld the filling-wedges that are inserted ot' the segments, thus preserving,r

the form imparted The rim-forging machine consists ci' a iianiing, 1

ly supported on a base, and in which' is received the part P', turned at its lower end, and sliding with slight tiicticn in I.

The part 1" is supported on springs 13 13, and is To the upper end of part P' is secured a yokeshaped frame, 15, terminating in a`screwsockct, 16, in which a screw, It, carrying the hammer-head S, can be moved up or down.

The screw It is operated" by a spring-balance lever?, and is also provided with a brake-lever, 17.'

The counterpart of the hammer is formed by two the pressure or percussion is applied, vthese jaws, which are embraced at their ends by the part S, tend' to approach each other and gripe the spokes, so as to form a. rmsupport for sustaining thc forging or welding operation without in the least ceet-iug the synunetry of the wheel.

T is an arbor projecting from a socket, 19, being se-v cured in atubnlar case or arm that is formed at rightangles on said socket.

The socket embraces the upper part P'cf the frampart P. in which position it is fixed by a. hand-lever,

v2O. tilting into a notchedI portion of the hollow col- The wheel to be welded being heated at the point of junction ot' the spokes and rim, is then suspended from the arbor T by the nave, a counterpart or washer, 2 1, engaging in a helical groove that is made in the arm, so as to bring thc heated part under the action of the hammer or pressing tool, that is to say,be

tween the jaws 18 18.

The welding-wedge is then placed at the ends of the heated bars, on which pressure is applied, or the blow struckby the cud ot' the balance-lever.

The wedge is held between the cutting-edges of the percussion instrumennpand embraces the sides ot` the rim, itlbcing cut otl at the desired length during the downward motion.

\ This peration requires to be repeated for cach section ot' the rim; l

The wedges are heated in any suitable manner.

I employ the arrangement ot' rotaryV forge herein described for heatingthe' several points in the periphery of the wheel.

This rotary forge, shown in figs. 21 and 22, is made to rotate on an axis, V, and supported on asolid foundation, having a hollow center, 22, at which the air for combustion is supplied.

The rotating axis V unites the four radiating forges, and supplies air thereto.

X X are supports for the wheels corresponding in height with the arm T before referred to.

'.lhe'axis Vis, by radial branches 23, connected with the several furnaces Y Y that are under the wheelsnpports- X X respectively.

lThe furnace receives air from the axis V through the channels 23,-each of which is provided with a valve, 24.

It will be readily understood that if the furnaces are lighted, and a wheel suspended from each arm X, four wheels may be heated simultaneously, while the position of the four furnaces may be varied by turning them on their axes, .without interrupting their action.

The arms Xot' the forge correspond, as before men tionetl, in height with the arm '1 of the last-mentioned wedging-machine, and, as the arms X rotate on the axes Y, they may be successively brought in line with and against the arm T, so that e wheel may be readily transferred from an arm X to thcarm T for receiving a wedge, after which itis returned to X, to be again heated at another place, for receiving another wedge.

The second urm Xthen eomesinto action by the partial rotation of the forge, and so on.

In the above manner I am enabled to weld the rims in a continuous manner.-

'lhe wheel is not heated after the last wedge has 'been applied, but is replaced on the arm X b'y another, while thetinished wheel is removed from-the arm '1 of the wcdging-machiue.

The screw 25 serves to regulate the height of the arms ofthe forge, so as to bring them in relation wit-h the wedging-machine.

rlhe herein-described mode of manufacturing forged spoke-wheels is also wholly or in part applicable to all kinds of metallic wheels other than before described.

Having thus described my invention, v

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The method herein described of constructing metalspokcd wheels, substantially as set forth.

BARTHELEMY BRUNON.

Witnesses T. FEUILLM, E. RcroR 

